ENGAGE INSPIRE EQUIP

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Life Group Sermon Study

On Working Hard July 26/27, 2014

Break the Ice:

ENGAGE

(The purpose of these first questions is to help your group open up. Please don’t feel like you have to ask each question. Once you feel like the group is ready, move onto the “Inspire” section.)

• What was the best or worst job you had as a teenager? • What challenged you from the sermon this week? Prayer: Take some time to pray for God to speak to your group through this week’s study. Questions:

IN SP IRE

(Since the group may need time to process each question, don’t let silence scare you. Try to avoid filling the space with unnecessary explanation or moving on from the question too quickly.)

1. On Working Hard • Share about a time you learned the value of working hard. Who taught you that working hard was honorable?

Read Proverbs 12:24, Proverbs 13:4, and Proverbs 18:9. • What jumps out at you from these verses? • What are some factors that can cause a person to become lazy, sluggard, and slothful? Petie shared that selfishness is the root of a person being lazy or slothful. Do you see that play out in your workplace? Have you ever been the one who has let selfishness control how you work?

2. Read Proverbs 28:25 and 23:4. • What are some dangers of living to work? • Do you struggle with wanting to make a name for yourself? • Do you think striving to become rich causes you to lose perspective on what really matters? If so, how? If not, why not? • What are your top three priorities in life? What do you do to keep those things in focus?

3. Read Colossians 3:23-24. • • • •

How does working for the Lord and not for men challenge you? What would some of the benefits be (for you and others) if you lived out these verses in your workplace? What type of reward does the person who works for the Lord seek? Do you find it hard to deny your flesh and resist wanting to be noticed? If so, why?

4. Your Workplace • Are you purposeful and intentional about how you live your life with those outside of Christ? • How can you be more purposeful with your time with those who are outside of Christ? Application:

EQUIP

(These questions will challenge your group members to apply the study to their daily lives. It is highly important that you go over this section with your group each week for the group study to be a success. Set aside 15-20 minutes at the end of your study to go over this section.)

Share with your group what your attitude is when it comes to your working environment, and one thing you want to change or add as you work on this earth for Jesus. Prayer: Take some time to pray over each group member’s identified action steps and life issues. Equip Your Mind: “Whatever you do, work heartily—as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)